Galleria in plans for rebirth of New Haven

Proponents of the New Haven Galleria Mall project at Long Wharf won a major victory on Thurs., Mar. 9, when the Department of Economic and Community Development concluded that any adverse effects from the development would be neglible, far outweighed by the positive effects. The report, entitled "Finding of No Significant Impact Summary," divides its investigations into three categories, quantifying the mall's impact on New Haven's socioeconomic makeup and its natural and physical environment. It suggested that the Galleria could reverse the 12-year trend of decreasing retail employment and retail sales.

The report argues that New Haven stands to gain much by the completion of the project, which would "improve the linkages between neighborhoods north and east of Route 34 with the waterfront at Long Wharf and New Haven Harbor." Furthermore, it said that "Tax revenues to the City of New Haven will be used for improvements in neighborhoods throughout New Haven." According to the report, the recent increase in demand for retail resulting from "growth in personal income in Connecticut [which] correlates with the growth of retail space in the state" makes this the perfect time to build the mall.

FILE PHOTO The decline of the Chapel Square Mall symbolizes the problems that downtown New Haven faces.

Although votes for the mall have succeeded in the Connecticut State Legislature twice, Democratic Speaker of the House Moira Lyons announced at a press conference on Wed., Mar.15 that a third vote could be held. Opposition to the mall comes almost exclusively from Milford, whose Connecticut Post Mall stands to suffer from the Galleria's competition. Milford has financed nearly a dozen lawsuits against the project. But according to Susan Coes, spokesperson for New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., those lawsuits amount to nothing more than "nuisances, delaying tactics with no substance." It is unlikely that Long Wharf will be stopped, but what remains to be seen is whether state funding for the project will come in the form of a tax-free gift.

Despite the report's positive findings, a few considerations remain. Supporters of the project are wary of drawing business away from downtown New Haven. While this may seem inevitable, measures are being taken to mitigate such effects. Following the advice of two recent proposals, one of which was formulated by the New York consulting firm Ernst and Young, "$25 million are being allocated for the revival of downtown New Haven," Coes said.

Both proposals are receiving serious consideration by the United Merchants Association (UMA) and the Town Green Special Services District (SSD), which are also taking measures to protect and revitalize downtown. According to Leonard Tombank, the owner of Congress Pants on Church Street and UMA vice president, his organization is "officially neutral on Long Wharf." He also said that the UMA is "in favor of both plans for downtown New Haven, with or without the mall [at Long Wharf]."

The implicit wish to minimize the mall's impact is a theme running through the rhetoric of many of those concerned with the future downtown. According to Tom Healy, business manager for Town Green SSD, the goal is to have Buckley's plan "succeed in spite of the mall, to make a vibrant downtown conducive to retail." Town Green SSD oversees a 27-block area forming an L-shape around the Yale campus and the New Haven Green. Its purpose is to establish an effective working relationship between property owners, tenants, and the city government to create a welcoming downtown environment.

Town Green SSD hired Ernst and Young to design a strategic plan. Developed by New Haven resident Michael Buckley, the plan was formalized in December in the final report of the "New Haven Central Business District Retail Strategic Plan." The report identified the New Haven Coliseum and Chapel Square Mall as key pieces in the strategic plan.

The report also included suggestions for an urban entertainment center, complete with a cinema, nighttime entertainment, restaurants, and clubs. It is crucial to the plan's success to draw people to the region temporarily—via tourism and, significantly, Yale University—and permanently by making New Haven an attractive place for residents. "Retail encourages pedestrian density," Healy said. "That density, combined with the new residential options in the strategic plan, will increase security advantages and the perception of downtown as a safe, secure environment. Increased weekend and evening activities will also prompt positive perception of the city's well-being."

Healy has a good deal of faith in the success of the plan, descibing the report as "very good." He elaborated, "Some of it is high in the sky, but a lot of it is doable. All that remains is to get the folks in downtown to offer financial and logistical support."

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